Run for Hope

Yes, my love affair with running started when I joined my first ever fun run last April 21, 2012.  That was a year ago but the feeling is still gleaming, as if it only happened yesterday. Thanks to Run for Hope especially to my cousin Evy Miguel for the invitation to experience the fun and the opportunity to help others. Every afternoon before the event, I demanded myself to set aside an ample time to walk, jog and train really hard. Whenever I see a dude, young, big and old and too persevering and determine to run, I feel discomfited. So I open my door to the challenge of going back to this kind of diversion. Since it is very evident that it provides a noticeable boost of self-esteem, confidence and a sense of greater empowerment which I really need. I believe this will leave a feeling of much "naragsak" or happier life. Honestly, I haven't done this for a very long time. I remember when I was in grade school, my father was consistent in waking me up early morning at around 4 and assisted me in putting on my shoes, have to finish in 5 minutes drinking a glass of milk then we always run together.  The idea of running was introduced to me early.  But I couldn’t understand the benefit of running at a young age even if my father keeps telling me the many reasons why we run and the need for me to really stick to this kind of sports, all I wanted was to sleep and play.

 

Good thing, I didn’t run alone.  My best friend since high school was there and commiserated me in my first try of running kilometers. Well that is the perk of having a good friend.  We slept quite late that night because we extended our hand to finish the inventory of shirts for the runners the following day.  It was fun, we weren’t just there to run but to be of helped the little way we can to make the event possible.  Maybe one of the effects of being excited is waking up early the following morning at least an hour or two before the calling time.  In the venue, I was surprisingly looking at people of different ages, ranging from kiddos to folks and even pups.  It was great seeing them stretching and doing some sort of 15-minute-span-and-spin to rouse their veins and muscles and be ready to race. Great to know that these days people are going active to different sports because of a common goal.  They are after the increase of their overall health.

 

 

      break a leg pose with ate evy, prettie and arianne

 

  

 infront of  ilocos norte capitol with ate evy,

the woman behind the run for hope

 

  

with the team kimat runners of ilocos: mang jeff and redg

 

  

the optimists

   

 

high school batchmates: prettie (nurse) and

 doc danilo (he also tried his luck for the 3k, *wink*)

 

 

                                                                             ate evy and her lovely daughter arianne

RUN FOR HOPE...they made it possible! (",)

 

   

the after 3k pose with the young runners...

 

  

     who wants halo-halo after sweating out an ounce of toxins? (",)

 

 

my cousin, manong junjun in his first attempt...  for a 10k...

what a running pose huh? *wink*

 

  

hi max! tired? hugs! (",)

  

 

 

I realized that it doesn’t really matter how many kilometers you are going to endure.  What matters is the determination, dedication and the will to do it.  Never give up even if you will experience physical and emotional pain, the more you should try hard and give your best.  Like a book, a dog and a best friend, running gives back its own doze of benefits to the body if you are loyal and focused.  It is indeed incredibly beneficial to the body, mind and spirit that often sets our mood to be happy. "Mas healthy, mas happy!" In Ilocano, "Nu nakaradkad ka, naragragsak ka!".

 

"If there is one thing I would teach my own kids and love to do when I get old, that is to wake up early, drink my milk, put on my shoes and run the farthest way I can." - *jag* -

(lesson learned from my father, may he rest in peace+)

 KEEP ON RUNNING! (“,)